AdeFilipina tennis star Alex Eala continues to make her mark on the international stage, battling through back-to-back tournaments in Jingshan and Suzhou that tested her endurance, focus, and fighting spirit. While she didn’t walk away with a trophy this time, her reflection on social media perfectly summed up her campaign: “Some crazy matches this week.”
And she wasn’t exaggerating.
At the Suzhou Open, Eala endured one of the most grueling encounters of her young career, outlasting Belgium’s Greet Minnen in a marathon clash that lasted over three hours. The match went the full distance with Eala holding her nerve in a dramatic 7-6(5), 6(3)-7, 7-5 win. It was a statement of her resilience and stamina, showing that the 19-year-old is capable of digging deep against seasoned WTA competitors.
Earlier in the tournament, she had already proven her mettle by defeating Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa in another tight three-setter. Her run, however, came to an end in the quarterfinals against Swiss veteran Viktorija Golubic, who edged out Eala in yet another deciding set, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(0). It was a painful loss, but also a valuable lesson against an opponent ranked higher and with years of top-level experience.
Just days prior, Eala also had a strong showing in Jingshan, where she reached the semifinals before bowing out to Lulu Sun. Across both tournaments, she consistently pushed her opponents to the limit, with most of her matches going the distance.
Reflecting on her efforts, Eala admitted that the week had been both exhausting and eye-opening: “Back to the drawing board with a bit more experience and a lot of sweat lost.” Her words capture the maturity of an athlete who knows that growth doesn’t always come from lifting trophies, but also from enduring tough battles and learning from the margins of defeat.
What stood out most was her ability to stay composed in pressure-packed tie-breaks and final sets. These experiences are crucial stepping stones as she continues her journey toward breaking into the higher echelons of the WTA rankings.
Now, the young Filipina shifts her focus to the Wuhan Open qualifiers, where she’ll once again test herself against top-tier competition. With her momentum, fitness, and fighting mentality sharpened by “crazy” matches in Jingshan and Suzhou, fans have every reason to believe Eala is on the cusp of even greater breakthroughs.
For Eala, these matches weren’t just battles on court—they were lessons in grit, strategy, and belief. And for her growing fanbase, they were proof that the future of Philippine tennis is in determined hands.
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John Owolabi
Musa
